Clarksville city officials say they already knew they had competition with other Tennessee cities for the opportunity to build a statewide soccer complex sanctioned by the Tennessee State Soccer Association.

This week, evidence of one major municipal competitor went public amid reports of negotiations possibly escalating between TSSA and Murfreesboro.

TSSA spokespersons, including Executive Director Hans Hobson, were unavailable for comment Wednesday, but representatives of both Midstate cities publicly insist they are actively contending for the statewide prize.

"We've had the opportunity and been in discussions with the Tennessee State Soccer Association about really a champions complex that would be in Murfreesboro and it would be for the entire state," Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland told the Murfreesboro City Council during a Wednesday workshop.

Meanwhile, Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan, entering the height of a city election season, continues to promote a 305-acre "family athletic complex" anchored by TSSA soccer fields as one of the long-held, signature proposals of her administration.

She is working on the multimillion-dollar project at the same time that she seeks a third term in the city's highest office this fall against what is shaping up to be formidable competition.

The 300-plus acres for the athletic complex near Interstate 24 Exit 8 have been acquired by the city of Clarksville, and an economic impact plan is being developed.

In a prepared statement from Clarksville City Hall late Wednesday, officials noted that the city of Clarksville began talks with TSSA in January about the "possibility of partnering to build a major new regional soccer park, and those talks are continuing in good faith."

Throughout the process, which started with a formal "Letter of Interest" to the city of Clarksville from the Association, TSSA "has been clear about its intent to talk to other communities in middle Tennessee about developing such a facility," essentially meaning, said Richard Stevens, city of Clarksville director of communications, that the McMillan administration is not taken by surprise by the word out of Murfreesboro.

"After the City Council formally approved purchase of the land for the athletic complex, the city of Clarksville and the TSSA in June entered into a Memorandum of Understanding 'regarding the planning, development, construction, operation, maintenance and management of a statewide/multistate regional soccer park and training facility at the Clarksville Athletic Complex,'" said the statement from McMillan's office.

This MOU is non-exclusive and the parties may continue to negotiate with other entities, both TSSA with other cities regarding its needs, and the city with other sports organizations, associations, businesses and entities who may desire to use part of the Clarksville Athletic Complex, the city's statement noted.

The city of Clarksville's project engineer, Lose Design, is now conducting a comprehensive market and financing study and preliminary design for the athletic complex project. "This work, which includes consultation with TSSA and other potential partners at the athletic complex, will result in a summary report that identifies the best mix of facilities based on potential operating revenues and expenses," the city's statement said.

"The report will be used to develop a phasing plan to guide the long-term project funding and development of the property."

McMillan added in the statement, "We continue to have a constructive relationship with TSSA, and we are working with our engineers and consultants to develop the right plan to both meet the needs of the Association and to best serve the sports and recreation needs of Clarksville. Right now, we are conducting our due diligence, and we will continue to consult and negotiate, and hope to reach a long-term agreement with TSSA."

The Clarksville site lies just outside of the city limits, so there are efforts now underway to expand the formal Urban Growth Boundary of Clarksville so that the site can be annexed into the city limits. About 25 property owners are said to be potentially involved in that annexation plan, including the city itself.

This Thursday and next Thursday (Aug. 9 and 16), at 6 p.m. both nights, the Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission, at its downtown offices on Main Street, is hosting two successive, required public hearings on expanding the Clarksville Urban Growth Boundary, relative, ultimately, to the athletic complex project. The Clarksville City Council and Montgomery County Commission will also have to sign off on it.

Meanwhile in Murfreesboro, council members have agreed to study the economic development possibilities for a soccer complex that would include synthetic soccer fields for year-round use, indoor soccer fields, a stadium that can hold 4,000 to 5,000 fans and offices.

Headquartered on Elm Hill Pike in Nashville, TSSA governs youth soccer in the state of Tennessee. The organization also has a partnership with Major League Soccer in Nashville.

McFarland said Murfreesboro would consider a public-private partnership to lease 119 acres off I-840 between Veterans Parkway and Blackman, Burnt Knob and Vaughn roads to the association.

"We feel like Murfreesboro would be a phenomenal place for that to occur," said McFarland, adding that the city offers a central location for soccer tournaments. "This is a facility that would have a huge economic impact for sales tax revenue, room night revenue for hotel-motels, and with that, some commercial development."

The city of Murfreesboro would be able to use the soccer complex on certain days when the association would not be using this land, the mayor said.

McMillan has said Clarksville's facility would similarly be available to TSSA for its tournament needs, and the local community with its thousands of youth soccer participants and their families.

Situated across Rossview Road from the southern entrance to the Corporate Business Park, Clarksville's athletic complex entranceway is already being targeted for retail, and potential hotel development in an area once devoted to farming.